Astha SangrahASTHA SANGRAHhttps://asthasangrah.comChhath Puja
Chhath Puja is the four-day festival observed around Kartik Shukla Shashthi, dedicated to the worship of Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya, seeking the wellbeing of one's children and family.
This is the date of the main 'Sandhya Arghya' day, the festival actually begins two days earlier with Nahay Khay and concludes the following day with Usha Arghya. This same Kartik Shukla Shashthi is also observed in South India as Skanda Sashti, dedicated to Lord Kartikeya.
Significance of Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is a festival of worship dedicated to Lord Surya, revered as the source of life and energy in creation. Alongside him, Chhathi Maiya, regarded as Devi Usha (the Sun's sister or his shakti), is also worshipped, believed to be the protector of children's welfare. It is one of the very few major festivals in which arghya is offered to both the setting and the rising Sun.
It is believed that during the Mahabharata era, Karna, the son of Surya, stood waist-deep in water and offered arghya to the Sun every day, considered an early form of the Chhath vow. Another legend recounts King Priyavrata's stillborn child being revived by the blessing of Goddess Shashthi, and it is in remembrance of this that the vow is observed.
The Chhath vow is regarded as one of the most rigorous and ritually exacting fasts, it involves a 36-hour waterless fast, and the observer stands in the water of a river or pond to personally offer the arghya.
How Chhath Puja Is Celebrated
On the first day, 'Nahay Khay', devotees bathe in a sacred river, clean their home, and eat a single sattvic meal of pumpkin and rice. On the second day, 'Kharna', a waterless fast is kept through the day, broken in the evening with a prasad of jaggery kheer and roti, marking the start of the 36-hour waterless vow.
On the third day, the main day, devotees stand waist-deep in a river or pond in the evening and offer 'Sandhya Arghya' to the setting Sun, with a bamboo basket arranged with thekua, fruits, and sugarcane.
On the fourth and final day, devotees return to the riverbank at Brahma Muhurat to offer 'Usha Arghya' to the rising Sun, after which the 36-hour waterless fast is finally broken, and the prasad is distributed.
Chhath Puja Puja Vidhi
On the first day, bathe in a river and eat a sattvic meal. On the second day, fast through the day and break it in the evening with jaggery kheer as prasad. On the third day, keep a waterless fast and, in the evening, stand in the water to offer arghya to the setting Sun. On the fourth day, offer arghya to the rising Sun in the morning and break the fast.
About Chhath Puja
Chhath Puja is the four-day festival of worship dedicated to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya, observed from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami. This page covers Chhath Puja's significance, the legends of Karna and King Priyavrata, and the four days of Nahay Khay, Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, and Usha Arghya.
The information on this page is presented with easy-to-read sizing and print support.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chhath Puja observed?
Chhath Puja is observed every year from Kartik Shukla Chaturthi to Saptami, over four days, with the main day falling on Shashthi tithi.
Why is arghya offered to the setting Sun in Chhath Puja?
Chhath Puja rests on the belief that the Sun should be worshipped in both his rising and setting forms, reflecting gratitude for every aspect of life, both its beginning and its end.
Can water be consumed during the Chhath fast?
No, from after the Kharna prasad until Usha Arghya, a complete waterless fast of about 36 hours is observed, making it one of the most rigorous vows.
In which regions is Chhath Puja especially observed?
Chhath Puja is especially observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal's Terai region, and is also devotedly observed by communities from these regions settled elsewhere.